GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Six new faces saw the floor as the young Golden Eagles returned to action to open the 2021 season with a split vs. Mount Vernon Nazarene and University of Health Sciences and Pharamacy in St. Louis. The day began with a 3-1 loss to MVNU, before CU rebounded with a 3-0 sweep of UHSP to close out the night. Cornerstone will play two more matches tomorrow at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. vs. St. Francis of Indiana and Ave Maria. 

Game One: Cornerstone – 1 Mount Vernon Nazarene - 3 (24-26, 20-25, 25-22, 20-25) 

• Cornerstone got off to a hot start in the season opener, taking a 9-2 lead highlighted by four consecutive kills from Braely Herrema. 
• After an early timeout by the Cougars, they were able to regroup and tie the first set at 18 with a kill from Molly Galaszewski. 
• MVNU later took the lead 20-18 on a block from Nicole Winkler and Tory Small. 
• CU responded to tie things at 24, but a pair of kills for Mount Vernon ended set one with a 26-24 loss for the Golden Eagles.
• In set two, MVNU continued their momentum with an early 4-0 run to get on top 11-6. 
• Cornerstone would not see the lead the remainder of the set despite a late 6-0 run that saw Regan Vaughn record three straight service aces and they would ultimately fall 25-20. 
• Cornerstone would not go down easy in set three, as Braely Herrema again had a pair of kills to help the team get on top 7-6 early. 
• A 6-1 and 4-0 run later in the set would put CU up 23-16. After MVNU made a slight comeback, Braely Herrema put the ball away to win set three 25-22. 
• Neither team could find a big run in set four, as a MVNU service error tied the set at 17. 
• Great defense from the Cougars then allowed them to score three straight points and go on top 20-17. 
• Cornerstone was unable to keep up as Nicole Winker recorded the match sealing kill to down Cornerstone 25-20 in the fourth set. 

 
Game Two: Cornerstone – 3 University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy - 0 (25-8, 25-15, 25-12)

• Freshman Aubrey Lenz led off game two of the day with a pair of service aces that got the Golden Eagles out to a 4-0 advantage. 
• Regan Vaughn continued the service attack with a 14-0 run that saw six kills from Braely Herrema. 
• CU would go on to win set one 25-8 on a block from Aubrey Lenz and Kathryn Detweiler. 
• Aubrey Lenz started set two the same way she started set one with dominance from the service line scoring the first five points for CU. 
• An 11-1 run later in the set, helped Cornerstone coast to a 25-15 set two victory. 
• Aubrey Lenz again scored five straight to begin the third and final set. 
• Olivia Keelean made an unbelievable dig in set three as Cornerstone took a 21-8 advantage. 
• Jada Thomas recorded the final kill as Cornerstone went on to win set three 25-12 and secure the match for their first win of the season. 

 
By the Numbers
20+ - Braely Herrema (25), Olivia Keelean (24), and Jada Thomas (20) all had 20 or more kills combined on the day. 
28 – Olivia Keelean recorded a career high 28 digs in the first match vs. Mount Vernon Nazarene. 
6 – Six Golden Eagle freshman played college volleyball for the first time in their career today. 
7 – Aubrey Lenz led the team with seven service aces on the day. 
.233 – Cornerstone hit .233 as a team in today's two matches.  
 
What's Next?
Cornerstone continues the CU/AQ classic with two more games vs. Saint Francis (Ind.) and Ave Maria (Fla.) tomorrow at 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. 

Volleyball Contact: Jesse Campbell 
CU Athletics: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Volleyball: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram